plan a modern wedding in the middle of the country

These are the times of personalization in wedding world, a time where brides and grooms never cease to amaze me with ways of incorporating their names, favorite memories, colors and just about anything else into their special days. A growing trend is incorporating your culinary heritage (and favorites) into the food you serve at your reception. This could include everything from just the hors d’ourves to an entire sit down dinner. This infuses a punch of personality to what could be a boring or run-of-the-mill menu.

A unique way of incorporating this trend into your reception could also be highlighting the culinary heritage of the city you met or where you’re from. Some chili from Cincinnati please? A pizza bar full of deep-dish pizza from Chicago? Yum! We’ve collected some inspiration to get you started on highlighting your locales yummiest traditions!

This is probably my most favorite and least favorite post in quite some time. Why? Well, the heart and soul of this post is all about food. Writing this post was like researching Pinterest for recipes – everything looks so delicious, but then you want to eat. it. all.

It’s no secret that a true foodie wouldn’t skimp on the food for their nuptials. But, that doesn’t mean you, as a “non-foodie” should skimp on food. Let’s be honest, if the food at your reception is bad, guests will remember. So, as you plan your menu and work with your caterer, remember that food is part of the overall experience – just like your gown, the flowers, and the venue.

Lean on your caterers + chefs.
Much like a florist would love for you to give them full creative reign, a chef would to. Use them as a resource to help create a menu that is seasonally inspired, unique and memorable.

Cohesion.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in “this all tastes good so let’s just go with it” mentality. But, you want to ensure that everything from the appetizers to the salad to the entree pair well together. Think if it much in the same way a sommelier would plan a meal around a bottle of wine – you want everything to cohesively work and taste great.

Taste test.
This one should be a given, but make sure you TASTE your proposed menu. Not only is it an opportunity to try everything before the big day, but it also gives you an opportunity to tweak the meal. From the sauce, to the vegetables or main entree. Plus, most caterers allow at least one complementary tasting when you work with them.